First in the Hearts

After 250 years, Thornton Wilder’s Our Town is considered America’s greatest play. So what’s the problem? Well, plenty as it turns out. The main criticism of the play is the idealized view of small-town America. The theatre complaints are legendary. The slow pace, no plot or high stakes, the bare stage, mimed props and archetype characters. 21st century criticism is easy and obvious. It’s all WASP...